Dustin Pedroia officially ruled out for rest of season

Bill Koch Journal Sports Writer BillKoch25

Friday

Sep 7, 2018 at 6:49 PM

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia will not play again this season.

The Red Sox made official early Friday afternoon what had been suspected for so long. The second baseman has not made enough progress in his rehab from offseason left knee surgery to see the field again this year.

Pedroia endured three surgeries on the knee over a 10-month period, with a pair of scopes sandwiching a more intensive cartilage restoration procedure. It was the second scope to clear some scar tissue in July that ultimately put Pedroia too far behind in his recovery to rejoin his teammates.

“It stinks not being able to help out playing, but it’s a part of it,” Pedroia said. “You deal with it the best you can. Going forward I’ll be fine and back to normal.”

Pedroia, 35, appeared in just three games this season and has been sidelined since feeling discomfort in the knee before a May 30 contest at Houston. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 2 and transferred to the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 4, clearing a 40-man roster spot. Pedroia was already at his Arizona home working with his personal trainers when he underwent the July procedure.

“We all chose for me to go back there because everyone knew the amount of work that I would have to put in,” Pedroia said. “It’s not fair for me to take two trainers away from 25 guys for eight hours. And it’s not fair for me to have them come in at 8 in the morning and have them be there until midnight. I understood that.”

Boston manager Alex Cora declined to disclose the third procedure to the media until Friday. He’s been somewhat cagey while discussing the progress of his former teammate, refusing to rule out Pedroia’s potential return despite the additions of Ian Kinsler at the trade deadline in July and Brandon Phillips on a minor league deal in late June. Pedroia had one hit in 11 at-bats and hasn’t played any real part on the field in what has been a historic season to date for the team.

“This guy, he means so much to this franchise,” Cora said. “What he’s done the last few years, he deserved the respect that we gave him through the process for him to try to come back. He’s put himself close, but not close enough.”

Both Pedroia and Cora were adamant that the Red Sox had taken the proper steps to facilitate Pedroia's return this season. Pedroia remained in Fort Myers at extended spring training while his teammates broke camp and then went through a minor league rehab assignment. He debuted on May 26 in an 8-6 victory over Atlanta and played in his final game three days later in an 8-3 victory over Toronto.

“I don’t look back and say we did anything wrong, even when I came back and played those few games,” Pedroia said. “I was cleared to play. I was feeling fine. We all thought I was going to be able to respond and recover.”

The Red Sox have little choice but to take the long view with Pedroia. His contract runs through the 2021 season and will pay him $30.375 million before expiring. Brock Holt and Tzu-Wei Lin are the only other Boston players under contract for 2019 who have appeared at second base this season.

“I offered him five games in Caguas this year — we could do it for charity,” Cora said, a sarcastic reference to a winter league spot in Cora’s native Puerto Rico. “And he declined. I think where he’s at right now — he’s going to keep taking grounders and swinging the bat and going through the process.”

Pedroia said he’s been in contact with his teammates throughout his time in Arizona. He’ll remain with the Red Sox throughout the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs, taking ground balls and batting practice as dictated by his recovery program.

“I know I don’t look like much, but I’m half intelligent,” Pedroia quipped. “Any questions they have or whatever, I’ll be there for them in any way and try to help out.”

— bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

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